Bill Greenwood was a jam maker and breeder of hens, rabbits and chinchillas before he purchased the 249 ha New Hall Farm at Purleigh in 1962. Mostly given over at the time to permanent grass for livestock, he converted it into an arable farm with plantings of rhubarb, broccoli, peas and beans. Vineyards had been part of the Purleigh landscape from at least the 12th to 16th centuries, so when the chance opportunity arose in 1968 to purchase 10,000 vine cuttings, Greenwood decided to establish a new Purleigh vineyard at New Hall.

The first three vintages were vinified at Merrydown, until the winery was completed in 1976. Piers Greenwood (Bill's son) began working in earnest on the venture around this time and gained valuable experience working in Alsace. Together Bill and Piers greatly expanded the plantings up to their current size of 78 ha. Vines are trained on a widely spaced Guyot system which allows good canopy ventilation and mechanisation. The major varietals grown (in decreasing order of vine numbers) are Bacchus, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Muller Thurgau, Schonburger and Huxelrebe.

Piers was UKVA winemaker of the year in 2013 and his wines,  especially the New Hall Bacchus and Pinot Noir Rosé, have won many awards. Not all of the New Hall fruit goes into producing New Hall wines, with past fruit sales having been made to producers such as Chapel Down and even Camel Valley.

The New Hall farm is open to visitors from Monday to Saturday. Facilities include a free vineyard trail and the opportunity to purchase New Hall wines. An annual wine festival has been held at New Hall since 1973 and takes place on the first weekend of September.